Adopt-A-Tree

This week, we started and completed Project Learning Tree. I LOVED the opportunity to go through this training, get the curriculum text, and find out that science can be fun and resourceful at the same time!

My favorite experience was the Adopt-A-Tree. During this exercise, we got to pick "our own tree" around campus. Then, we had a little booklet (handmade hehe), and we could record our observations in it! I decided to draw a picture of my tree from a far away perspective, then draw certain things that I saw in and around the tree. Next, I recorded the observations I made, while focusing on my senses. I wrote what I heard, what I saw, what I felt, what I smelled, annnnnnd I decided to skip out on the "what I taste" portion haha! Although, if some fruit would have been growing on the tree, I surely would have picked it and eaten it!

I decided to take this exercise a step further, and I wrote a poem about my tree! I learned in Dr. Bass' class that you can pretty much incorporate ELA strategies into any other content area. Dr. Kat has reinforced this idea, and I am allllll over it these days! I called my tree the "Homey Tree," because I saw a lot of insects living in it, new flowers were sprouting, and there was even a bird's nest nuzzled into the tree! I couldn't see above it, but I just have a feeling that there were some eggs in it. Maybe Robin eggs...I only say that because I HOPE that's what is in there. I love how they are blue :)

I think that this would be an activity you could do with students all year long. They could record observations about their tree in the beginning of the year, and then revisit their tree all throughout the school year. What looks different about it? What living things have made it their home? What is growing on the tree? What do the leaves look like in the fall? I could see students getting very attached to "their tree," and I believe this would be an experience they remember for a long time :) I know I would have!

Coming up on the next blog...WHY are the Robin's eggs blue?! I honestly have no clue, but I have always loved it. So, now it is time to dig in and find out!